Monday, August 01, 2011

Taking the plunge - metaphorically and literally.

While things have continued to be angsty over in Decoybettyland, they've also continued in the domestic bliss and even in the "make things happen for yourself" realms of my life.

I hate to stoop to potty talk, but let me tell you something I've observed about Australian 'toilets'. I can't think of one domestic toilet that I've been to in Australia that comes with a trash can. I don't know why Australians are against trash cans in their bathrooms, but it means that I have to carry around tampon wrappers and used floss which doesn't make me a happy girl. Secondly, I've never seen a bathroom with a plunger in it. This is particularly concerning for me because I have a history (and I am not proud of it) of backing up toilets, and yet no where has a plunger NO WHERE. What is up with that? Are Australian toilets impervious to getting backed up (what's their secret?)? Does it have something to do with being upside down, water spinning the other way down the drain, and down under? So many questions.

First, let's talk domestic bliss, over the weekend Inspector Climate put in a load of washing while I sat on our bed and worked on a job application. Soon, he was running from the kitchen through the bedroom to the bathroom with tupperware containers full of water.

"Do I want to know what is happening?" I asked.

"The sinks backed up and the washing machine is draining right into the sink and it's about to overflow"

"Would you like some help?"

"No, I think I got it"... Until 15 minutes later...

"D, get a tupperware container!"

And so we bailed out the sink as the washing machine continued to drain (yay! it drains). Our first thought was perhaps that the drain was clogged so we poured down some vicious life killing drain cleaner which only seemed to make matters worse. We were afraid we'd have to call the land lord for the THIRD time to send someone to fix something in our apartment (we've lived here for month). But Inspector Climate decided that a plunger would fix everything and so he went out and bought one. And who woulda thunk it, but plungers DO fix everything. Our sink (and washing machine! Inspector Climate 2 - house 0) both drain. MAGIC.

In more metaphorical plunging terms, I am planning a vacation (and ya'll I am excited) to Vanuatu in November. I wondered, if just maybe, I could leverage this blog to produce some discounts/upgrades on hotels and tours. And you guys would not believe it, but it did! I can't wait to share them with you in a few short months!

After my last post, full of the sad song of "why oh why's" it's rejuvenating knowing that I can achieve, albeit small, change. I can make it happen. And so why stop there? In the next few months, I am going to try and diversify my earnings (is that a thing if you're unemployed?) and put advertising on this blog. If you're interested please send me an email (my address is on the side bar under "did you know") and I'll send you my stats and prices (suggestions?), and anything else you'd like know...

And with this new found motivation I am going to start the job hunt again (although, I technically still have a job, I think). I want to thank you for all the comments from the last post, bitches you made my day.

I think that sounds wonderful! Change is always really scary, especially when you're not 100% sure what's going to happen (welcome to pretty much every day of my life). I admire your courage and willingness to try new things in order to 'diversify your earnings' - much braver than I am. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

Hey Diedre, thanks for visiting my blog. Love yours! I found your plunger dilemma funny. I've never backed up a toilet here in my life but did it first week living in the US. Yes, I think it does have something to do with the water sucking straight down. I freaked out the first time I saw the water rising in the bowl in America! :D

France is quite the same with lack of trash cans and plungers. I like to be on the safe side and have one there, too. Maybe you could diversify your earnings by creating portable purse-sized plungers. Just a thought.

haha....it never really occurred to me what an important (aahh...no, lets go for lifesaving) household item a plunger can be^^Now I'm going to take our poor, neglected plunger out of its cupboard, build a throne for it right next to our toilet and give it some cutie patootie name...so that it may have a life of its own xD